Film Executive and Philanthropist

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As devoted advocates for vulnerable children all over the world, film producer Marc Shmuger and his wife Louise Hamagami support a number of charitable organizations. One of these is A Place Called Home, a youth center servicing the children of Los Angeles. By sitting on this organization’s advisory and directorial boards, Marc Shmuger and Louise Hamagami actively involve themselves in the wellbeing of young people in their home city.

South Central LA has historically experienced high crime rates, high truancy, and low academic performance. As a result, only one-quarter of area residents have a high school diploma, and only around 1 in 30 have a four-year degree. The current economic climate exacerbates the problem, trapping more and more locals in chronic poverty. A Place Called Home (APCH) combats this destructive cycle by boosting educational opportunities for the poorest young people in the city.

APCH provides children and youth with a safe environment where they receive educational support, training, and mentorship programs to help build them into productive citizens and community leaders. In addition to nutrition, arts, and exercise opportunities, the organization offers tutoring and literacy classes to help students with school work. APCH also provides children with school supplies and access to modern computer facilities, as well as free eye-exams and prescription glasses.

As part of its dropout recovery program, APCH includes a highly successful Continuation High School operated in partnership with Los Angeles Unified School District. The center also maintains strong ties with area schools, so that member youths’ academic progress can be monitored.

The philosophy of APCH ultimately comes down to empowerment of youth through education. By tackling the hardest education problems in LA’s poorest quarters, APCH’s force of over 1,000 volunteers strives to open new avenues for the next generation of thinkers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.